Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, again rejected a fresh bail request by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Mr Kanu, who is leading a secessionist campaign for the creation of the Biafra Republic from Nigeria, faces treason charges before the judge, Binta Nyako.
Ruling on Mr Kanu’s fresh bail request, Mrs Nyako said she could not exercise her discretion in granting the IPOB leader bail because he had jumped bail On 25 April 2017, the judge admitted Mr Kanu to bail on account of ill health after he was incarcerated for 18 months in State Security Service (SSS) custody.
Referencing the incident, the judge said persons who stood as sureties for Mr Kanu withdrew from the suit.
Mrs Nyako recalled Mr Kanu’s several unsuccessful bail applications, saying, “You have an option of appeal; please exercise your right of appeal.”
The judge warned that any attempt by the IPOB leader’s legal team to file another bail request before the court would be “a gross abuse of court process.”
Similarly, the court turned down Mr Kanu’s application seeking to either be put on house arrest or transferred to a custodial centre pending the hearing and determination of his trial.
At Monday’s proceedings, the judge ordered the SSS to grant Mr Kanu access to his legal team of five persons each visiting day, and a doctor of his choice.